The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-17
Our @lio.
THE CONDOR IN CHILL.


THE CONDOR IN CHILL.
Ed Mott in N. Y. Mail and Express.
The little village where 1 was staying in
Chill lay at the very base of the Andes,
with about mile of plain stretching away
to the ocean. At sunrise on the very first
morning was in the place l was awaken
ed by great commotion among the popu-
lace. Springing from the palm mattress
on which had been sleeping, looked out
of the low window of my apartment.
Men, women and children were running
through the narrow streets yelling wildly,
and men on horseback dashed away across
the plain, in which direction the excited
mob of villagers was tending. A roar as
though hurricane were passing came up
from the plain, and there was tremor in
the earth that alarmed me. | inquired
what the trouble was, and was told that it
was nothing but the condors, which had
come down that morning in large force
from the mountains and were even then en-
gagged in selecting cattle from the village
herd. Looking across the plain discov-
cred for the first time that great cloud Of
dust covered it for wide area, from which
came the roar and the tremor that had
alarmed me. The cloud and the roar and
| the tremor were made by the herd dash
ing furiously about on the plain, fleeing
in terror before the pursuit of the con-
doris. Quickly saddling my horse, which
was quartered in the small inn yard,
dashed away across the plain to enjoy a
close view of the disturbance and see
what its outcome would be, passing on my
way jabbering and shouting groups of vii
layers hurrying on afoot toward the flying
cloud of dust, in which were hidden the
common property of the place and its rave
nous and determined foe,
AS l rode up to within dozen rods Of
the stampeded cattle, one Of the herd burst
suddenly frSin the dense volume of dust
-Four immense condors followed il, and
swooping down upon it, tore at its flesh
with their great claws and punctured and
lacerated it with their strong beaks. The
animals eyes were bloodshot and were wild
with terror Its bellowings were terrible
to hear. 1t lashed its tail in agony against
its torn and bleeding sides, and rushed
aimlessly in all directions, while the huge
vultures beat against it and slashed and
ripped it with beak and claws. While l
galloped along and watched the sickening
mutilation of this helpless steer the herd
dashed on, and every condor that was fol-
lowing it seemed to abandon it, and, whet-
ted by the scent of the blood that flowed
from the wounded steer, Joined in its mad
pursuit. Although the poor beast sped
over the ground like the feetest racer, the
attacking birds kept close by its side, play
ing their terrible beaks and talons. The
herd, free from the assaults of the condors,
came to stop mile or so away, and the
mounted herdsman dashed back to the
scene was watching. They carried lassos
and spurred their horses after the steer,
which was now closely followed by the
whole field of vultures The procession of
following villagers had also arrived at the
spot, and, huddled about in noisy groups,
hurled many Spanish curses at the bold
flock of condors that was butchering one
of their best animals before their very
eyes.
Following the beleagured steer, and cir
uunIliuiia.saanaG1d its vain attempts To-. eSeane
chhS aroul - 7s17|'-r-
from the torture to 4 It's cruel pursurers
were subjecting it, the herdsmen cast their
lariats again and again, and after several
attempts each lassoed condor. Once the
poor steer, as if looking to us for assistance
in his extremity, rushed in amongthe horse
men and crowds of spectators.
Regardless of our presence the desperate
condors chung to his bleeding sides or
dashed along his wake. The doomed ami
NAL was black with dust and streaming
with blood from a hundred wounds The
excited crowd scattered before the advance
of the steer, and the lassoers, having
strangled to death the condors they had
captured, advanced again to cast their
lariats.
The steer circled around in stumbling
and unsteady way. He carried his head
high, and once struggled and fell With
great effort he regained his feet and once
more moved toward the crowd of spectators.
Bloody foam dropped in great masses from
his mouth His loud cries of agony had
changed to husky means. His tongue red
and swollen, hung at full length from his
mouth. AS he passed me huge condor
dashed forward, seized the steers tongue
in its beak and wrenched it out by the
roots. The steer threw his head up with
a heartrending cry, and then 1 saw two hid
eous, sightless cavities, dripping blood,
where his eyes had been plucked from
their sockets.
The spot where the steer had been sepa-
rated by the condors from the herd was
not more than an eighth of mile from the
sea shore, and the animal had been dashing
madly about on the plain, circling and
zigzagging here and there without drawing
any nearer to the water. Suddenly,
tongueless and sightless, and lettering and
rapidly weakening under his myriad
wounds, he wheeled, turned his head toward
the ocean and, gathering himself as if for
last desperate effort, dashed madly away
in that direction. Plunging and reeling
onward and still pursued by every ravenous
vulture, the dying steer rushed straight for
the surf. He reached the margin of the
sea and fell dead with his head in the
waves Instantly a score of beaks were
tearing the dead animals flesh from his
bones. I spurred my horse forward and
galloped to the spot where the vultures